Planoohaph co



G. W. RITCHIE.

FOLDABLE CRATE.

APPLxcATloN FILED MAn.1o.19|s.

1,308,682. Patented July 1, 1919.

2 swarm-SHEET 2.

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GEORGE W. RITCI-IIE, OAK HILL, FLORIDA.

roILDABLE :.CRATE.

Specification of Letters P atent.

Patented July 1, 1919.

Application filed March 10, 1916. Serial No. 83,392.

` To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. Rrrorrrn, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Oak Hill, in the county of Volusia and State of Florida, have invented new and useful Improvements in Foldable Crates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention contemplates the provision of a shipping crate or the like wherein the component parts of the latter are capable of folding one upon the other in compact form to provide a comparatively small article when its use is not desired.

The invention resides in the novel construction, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this specification like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views and Y wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of the crate.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation.

Fig. 3 is a View showing the crate collapsed prior to the folding of the parts.

Fig. 4 is a view of the crate completely folded.

Fig. 5 is a view of the partition.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of one end wall.

Before entering into a detail description of the invention, it is desired to be stated that the crate in its entirety may be constructed from any suitable material, and also vary in size. The crate essentially consists of a bottom 5, to which the end walls 6, and sidewalls 7 and 8 respectively are hingedly connected. With the exception of the side wall 8, which latter is hingedly connected to the inner surface of the bottom 5 by means of a hinge 9 of usual construction, in the manner so that the wall will fold upon the lbottom 5, the end walls 6 and remaining side wall are hinged to the outer sideof'the bottom 5, the leaf hinges being connected by means of rings 10 whereby these parts are spaced from the bottom a sufficient distance to permit the same to clear the bottom when they are either folded or set up in position for use.

When use of the crate is desired, the component parts are arranged in the position shown in Fig. 3. The side walls 7 and 8 are then arranged in parallel relation upon the bottom 5, during which operation the vertical partition 11 mounted upon the side wall 7 to fold thereagainst is extended at right angles thereto, and lifted vertically with respect to the side wall 7, to bring the free ends of the fastenino elements 12 in alinement with eyes 13 fixed on the side wall 8, subsequent to which the partition is lowered whereupon the elements 12 and eyes 13 hold the sidewalls fixed relatively while the other parts of the crate are arranged in set up position. To permit this horizontal and vertical adjustment of the partition 11, the latter is preferably provided at one edge with a loop 14 slidably and swingingly fitted within an eye 15 secured to the side wall 7, while the partition is further provided with a guide pin 16 similarly fitted within an eye 17 secured to the side 7 at a distance below the eye 15. The loop 14 is of such length to limit the vertical adjustment of the partition 11. The forward edge of the partition is provided with spaced transverse grooves 18 which receive the intermediate portion of the fastening elements 12, 14 and 16 whereby the latter are held in Operative position so as to be quickly and easily inserted within the eyes 13 when desired and also whereby the edges of the partition may be brought in tight contact with the inner faces of the sides of the crate. Each of the fastening elements preferably consists of a single strand of wire having one end passed through an opening in the partition 11 and upturned thereaganst, and its opposite end spaced in parallel relation to the forward edge of the partition as shown. With the fastening elements in position within the eyes 13, the side walls 7 and 8 are rigidly supported in set up position as hereinabove stated. Subsequent to this positioning of the parts the end walls G are moved to vertical position to complete the body portion of the crate.

Associated with each of the end walls 6 is a reinforcing band 20, which latter bounds the end walls and has two opposed sides thereof fixed to the adjacent edges of the end wall as shown. The other two opposed sides 21 of the reinforcing band as spaced from the adjacent edges of the end wall, excepting that it has its intermediate portion bent inwardly asl at 22 and secured to the end wall by a suitable fastening element. This arrangement defines upper and lower loops 23 at both sides of the end walls which receive and embrace the adjacentends of the respective side walls, thereby materially as sisting the partition 11 in holding the component parts of the crate rigidly in set up position for use. Each of the side walls is cut away to provide the notches 24.- which receive the intermediate portions 22 of the reinforcing band thereby permitting the end walls to be received between the side Walls and lie Hush with the outer ends of the latter. The band being constructed of metal embodies a natural resiliency, and consequently exerts a tension against the portions of side members received in the loops thereof, while the inbent portion 22 of the said band has friction engagement with the walls of the notches 24.

A cover 25 is hingedly secured exteriorly of the side wall 8 adjacent the upper edge thereof, and is adapted to fold over said edge and rest upon the upper edge of the side wall 7 in operative position. Secured to the under side of the cover adjacent each end thereof are spaced cleats 26 which are adapted to receive therebetween the adjacent or upper edge of the end walls 6 with a view of further supporting these elements in set up position. Subsequent to the lowering of the cover 25, the latter may be secured to the side wall 7 by means of a suitable latch or lock mechanism 27.

lVhen use of the crate is not desired, the cover is released and swung against the side wall S, the end walls are then extended to lie in a plane with the bottom 5, the partition ll detached from the side wall S and swung upon the opposite side wall 7 subsequent to which this wall also is permitted to collapse to lie in a plane with the bottom 5 as clearly shown in F ig. 3. The side wall 8 together with the top 25 is then folded upon the bottom, while the end walls are folded against the outer surface thereof, andthe side wall 7 finally folded against the end wall G, thereby producing a comparatively small compact article which will occupy a minimum amount of space, which is especially advantageous in the transportation of a large number of such articles.

It is believed that from the foregoing description the nature and advantages of the invention will be thoroughly understood without requiring a more extended explanation and therefore the same has been omitted.

What is claimed is l. A crate comprising a flat bottom having rectangular sides and ends hingedly secured thereto, a rectangular reinforcing band of a/greater width than the ends of the crate secured to the top and bottom edges of the said ends, the side members of each of the bands being centrally formed with a substantially rectangular inbent portion that is secured to the side edges of the ends, defining substantially rectangular sockets or spaces between the side edges of the ends and the side members of the bands outward of the said inbent portions, the sides of the crate having their ends centrally notched toreceive the inbent portions of the band, when the crate is set up, and also whereby the ends of the sides, opposite the referred t-o notches are received in the spaces provided between the bands and the side edges of the ends, and said 'bands designed to exert a tension toward the side members of the crate.

2. A knock-down crate comprising a flat bottom having sides and ends hingedly connected thereto and a top hingedly connected to one of the sides, each of said sides having its ends notched, reinforcing bands bounding the ends and secured to the top and bottom edges thereof and having the sides thereof extending beyond the edges of the said ends, and the said sides being centrally inbent to receive the notches of the sides when the crate is in its set-up condition to effect in sustaining the crate in its said set-up condition, eyes on the inner faces of the sides, a partition having fastening elements including straight and transverse portions, the latter being let in the edges of the partition and the former designed to engage in the eyes of the sides.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE w. ErrcHiE.

Witnesses:

H. E. BENNETT, L. L. MosEY.

Copies of this patent vmay be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

